Button sewing machine



June 30, 1931. A. ERICSSON BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18. 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet l June 30, 1931. A. ERICSSON BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1927 10 SheetS-Shee' 2 June 30,1931. A. ERICSSONI 1,812,327

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE FiledMay 18, 1927 lq Sheets-Sheet 3 Y l.lime 30, 1931. A ER|CS50N 1,812,327

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18 1927 f l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 30, 1931. A ER|C5SON l 1,812,327

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 30, 1931. Al ERlCSSON 1,812,327

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18 1927 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Qi l June 30, 1931. A. ERICSSON BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18 1927 lO Sheets-Sheet 7 June 30, 1931. A. ERICSSON BUTTON SEWING MACHINE 1.0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 18 192'7 Nvy M i NNN @Sv .lune 30, 1931. A ERlCsSON 1,812,327

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18 192'7 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 .Iii

June 30, 1931. A. ERICSSON l BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed May 18 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 attentati! III ll Patented `lune 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARVID ERICSSON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Application filed May 18, 1927. Serial No. 192,249.

The invention relates vto new and useful improvements in button sewing machines, and more particularly to a button sewing machine for sewing fiat buttons to fabrics.

An object of the invention is to provide a button sewing machine which is of few parts, simple in construction, including a stitching mechanism for stitching the. button to the fabric, a thread cutter and holder for cutting the threads and holding the looper thread, and a' tension release and pull-off, wherein the cutter and tension release and pull-off are actuated in proper timing with the stitching of the button to the fabric by a single control disk.

vA further object of the invention is to provide a machine of theA above type with a stop mechanism for automatically stopping the machine after a predetermined number of stitches have been placed through the eyes of the button.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a button sewing machine wherein the button is stitched tothe fabric by aA needle which is moved laterally so as to enter first one eye and then another of the button, and wherein the thread carrying 'looper cooperates with the needle beneath the fabric, and the loop retainerl holding the needle thread loop back on the looper assists in the stitch formation.

A still furtlier object of the invention is to provide a button sewing machine of the above type with means for shifting the button and fabric laterally so that the needle may be caused to pass through first one pair of'eyes 'and then another.

VA still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the lateral movement of the needle bar may be varied, and also the lateral movement of the button holder, so that the. ma-

' chine may be adjusted for stitching buttons of different sizes to fabrics.

These and other-objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention- Figurevl is a side view with parts in scction and parts removed, showing the button sewing machine embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other side of the button sewing machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing the end of the work supporting member, the button.clamp and the needle;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the button clamp and fabric support;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view, in part similar to Fig. 5, but showing the thread deflector in operation for moving the threads into contact with the cutter;

Fig. 7 is a detail showin thread deflector and the t the line a, a

the cutter, the read clampin it is cut;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the needle loop lretainer associated with the looper;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the fabric supporting member with parts broken away and removed to show the looper, loop retainer, thread cutter, thread deflector and holding membercooperating with the deflector;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the line b, b of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the supporting bed for the throat plate showing the construction and manner of mounting the yielding thread holder;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail in perspective showing the actuating rocker for the thread deflector;

Fig. 15 is a detail in the control disk, the rocker arm for shifting the button and fabric, and also showing the tension release -and pull-off;

Fig. 1G is a sectional View through the control disk, and the supporting frafie, showing the manner of mounting thev control disk, showing the construction of the head on the rocker arm for shifting the button the line c, c

the 1in@ d, d

perspective showing g 7o .device for holding the looper thread after button shifted so that the needle may form stitches, in the other pair of eyes;

- Fig. 20 is a similar view, but showing the completion' of the second group of stitches;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20, showing the button as again shifted laterally for the inishing of group of stitches in the i'rst pair of eyes, also showing the looper moved laterally out of normal position and the thread cuttin and clamping devices for cutting the threa s and clamping the looper thread;

Fig. 22 is a view of the actuating pulley, the end of the main shaft and the mechanism for connecting the pulley to the main shaftv and for stopping the machine at a predetermined time;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view on the line e, e of Fig. 22, and

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23, with the pawl and eccentric `or turning the ratchet removed and with the parts in stopped position.

The invention is directed to a button sewing machine for stitching fiat buttons to fabric. The machine is capable of stitching either a two-eyed button or a four-eyed buta very simple adjustment of the parts of the machine. The machine `includes'a needle which is' mounted in aV gate for lateral oscillation, so that the needle may pass through rst one eye and then another in the button. Cooperating-with the needle is a thread carrying looper, and coo erating with the looper is a loop retainer or moving and holding the needle thread loop back on the looper, so as to insure `that the needle will pass into the triangle formed by the body of the looper,-the needle thread'loop and the looper thread running from the eye of'.

the looper to the previous stitch. The means vfor oscillating the needle bar gate is capable of adjustment so that diiferent size buttons may be stitched to the fabric. The button is held a button. clamp which is adjustable for this button clamps is adapted to be shlft'ed laterally of the plane of-oscillation of the needle, so that the button may be positioned so that the needle will enter the other pair vof eyes therein when stitching a four-eyed button. The means for shifting the button with the first loop of in its set position.

l]ust before the machine stops.

' 5. This diierent size buttons, andholder includes a control disk having concentric grooves formed therein. This disk lrotates continuously during the stitching of the button. The button holder and fabric are shifted by'a rocker arm having a head carrying a ylelding stud which is adapted to seat in one of the concentric grooves. The studand the groove are shaped so that by aslight it may be shifted from one groove to the other, and after itis shifted, it will remain The shifting of the rocker arm is brought about by cams carried by the control disk. The machine is provided with a stop mechanism for stopping the machinel after av predetermined number of stitches are formed.` The control disk is so set relative to the stopl mechanism, that when the machine 'is set into `operation, a group of stitches Will-be formed in one pair of eyes, after which the button is shifted, and a group of stitches made in the other pair of eyes, and then the button is again shifted back orthe finishing of the group of stitches in the first pair oi' eyes.

Associated with 4the looper beneath the -abric support is a-'combined thread cutter and clamp. The cutter is stationary and lthe needle thread and looper thread are brought into engagement with the cutter by a thread delector. There is a yielding holding member which cooperatesfwith the delector in the clamping of the threads, and this deflector is operated by a control disk and at the proper timeto cut the threads afterthe finishing f the stitching of the button has been accomplished and The defiector will hold the looper thread clamped until aseries of stitches have been formed in the next button stitching operation. Meansv is provided for releasing the tension on the needle thread and for pulling thread from the supply. This tension releasing and pull-off means is likewise actuated by the control disk.

Referring more in'detail to the drawings, the improved button sewing machine includes a supporting bed 1 carrying a standard 2 having an overhanging arm 3 provided with afneedle head 4. Pivotally .supported on the needlehead 4 is a needle gate needle gate 5 is-pivotedon a vertical bar 6. Reciprocating in the gate 5 is a needle bar 7 carrying a needle 8. The needle bar is reciprocated by means oi' a lever v9 which is pivoted at 10 to the overhanging arm 3.Vv .c The lever is oscillated by an eccentric' strap. 11 cooperating with an f eccentric on thel main shaft` 12. The needle gate isl oscillated by means of a vlink 13. This link 13 is pivoted at `14 to a lever 15 which lisl fulcrun'ied 'at 16. A rod 17 is 19 (see Fig. 13), which straddles a concentric member 20 on' the counter shaft 12a. A gear 23 meshes with a gear 23a on the main shaft 12. The rod is provided with a stud 21 on which is mounted a roller running in a groove 22 formed in the side face of the gear 23 which is fixed to the shaft 12a. theshaft rotates, it will impart an endwise movement to the rod 17, which oscillates the lever 15,l and through the link 13, `will os cillate the needle bar gate. The pivotal connection between the rod 17 and the lever 15 is adjustable along a slot 24, and thus it is that the lateral vibration imparted to the needle may be varied.

Cooperating with the needle beneath the work support is a thread carrying 'looper 25. This thread carrying looper 25 is fixed to a shaft 26 located .in an arm 27 rigidly carried by the standard A2 of the machine. The shaft 26 is oscillated for moving the looper into and out of the needle thread loop by the usual connection with the main shaft of the machine. The looper shaft is moved endwise for giving tothe looper a needle avoiding movement; likewise by the usual devices in this type of machine. There is nothing new in the construction of the looper actuating mechanism, and therefore, detail description thereof is not thought necessary. The looper moves back and forth in a fixed path, While the needle shifts its position from one eye of the button to the other. The looper, however, is so positioned that it moves in theplane of oscillation of the needle when moved into the needle thread loop, and therefore, the

looper cooperates. with the needle in both of its lateral positions.

Associated with the looper is a loop retainer 28. This loop retainer 28 is carried at the outer end of an elbow arm 29. This elbow arm is formed integral with a sleeve 30 mounted on al rod 31 and held-thereon by the nuts 32, 32. The rod extends through asuitable bearing 33 in the arm 27, and at its inner end is secured to4 a yoke 34. This yoke is moved bodily endwise of the arm, and this imparts an endwise movement '1.o the rod 31.v The sleeve 30 is capable of oscillation on the rod. This is accomplished by extending the elbow arm 29 so 'as to provide a second arm 35. On the looper shaft 26 is a cam member 36. This cam member 36 is adapted to engage the elbow arm at a point below the elbow therein, and it also engages the arm 35. As the cam rotates, it will positively oscillate the loop retainer 28. The looper during .its oscillation is moved laterally, andso is the retainer moved laterally by the endwise movement imparted to the rod 31. These lateral movements, however,"are timed so that the loop retainer will move across the face of the looper, so as to engage the needle thread loop thereon the looper. This loop retainer has a. limited oscillation, so that it engages the needle thread loop adjacent the path of the needle after the needle has risen, and it then moves back on the looper holding' the needle thread loop well back on the looper, so as to insure that the needle will pass into its thread triangle formed by the body of the looper, the needle thread loop and the looper thread running from the eye of the looper to the fabric being stitched. This loop retainer and the operating mechanism therefor, form no part ofthe present invention, except in its embodiment in the button sewing machine. The invention per se in this mechanism, forms the .subject-matter of my copending application, Serial No. 197,068, filed June 7,v 1927.

The yoke 34 is fixed at its upper end to a bar 37 by means 'of a bolt 38. This bar w37'takes the place of the usual feed bar in this cylinder arm type of machine. The bar is forked at 39 so as to slide on a pin 40, and thebar is moved endwise by means of a link 4l actuated by a slotted arm 42 rocked in the usual manner. By adjusting the link, the amount of reciprocat-ion imparted to the bar'37 may be varied, and thus the amount of lateral movement given the. loop retainer varied.

In the drawings, the button is shown at B. It is a flat button having four eyes. The button is held by a buttorfclamp consisting of three holding jaws 43, 44 and 45. The jaw 43 isfixed to a bar 46 which is pivoted at 47 to a supporting plate 48. The jaw 44 is fixed to a bar 49 which is pivotcd at 50 to Said supporting plate 48. Mounted on the plate 48 is a slide 51. This slidey 5l is connected to a cam actuating plate 52 beneath the bars 46 and 49. The bars 46 and 49 are provided with cam faces 53 which face each other. Mounted on the cam actuating plate is a roller 54 whichv is adapted to engage the cam faces 53.` The bars 46 vand 49 are also provided with opposed cam faces 55, 55 and a roller 56 carried by this cam actuated plate engages these cam faces. It willbe noted that when the slide is moved endwise, to the right as shown in Fig. 4, the roller 56 will separate thecam faces 55, and at this time,

the roller 54 moving away from the cam in the opposite direction, then the jaws will be moved away from each other and will release the button. This slide is moved back and forth by means of a hand lever 57. The hand lever 57 is pivoted at 58 to the supporting plate 48, and is provided Awith a slot 59 which engages a pin 60 on the slide 51. A spring 6l normally swingsthehand lever so as to holdthe jaws in button clamping position. An adjustable stop 62 is provided for limiting-thc movement of the hand lever. This stop is slotted at 63 so as to slide on a holding screw 64. A set screw 65 is provided for securing the stop in adjusted position.

The under faces of the jaws 43, 44 and 45 are yprovided with serrations orv teeth 66. On the end of the work supporting arm 27 there is a fabric supporting plate. 67 with a slot 68 therethrough, in which the needleopcrates. A- fabric shifting plate 69 lies between the under face of the jaws and the fabricV supporting plate 67. This fabric shifting plate 69 has an opening 76 therethrough.

`The shifting plate and the jaws are moved laterally in the following manner., The supporting plate 48 is carried'by a head 71 on the lower end of a presser bar 72, which is of the usual construction. The head 71 is provided with inwardly projecting flanges 7 3 which engage grooves in the slde walls of the plate 48. This permits the plate 48 to move freely back and forth in ahorizontal plane onv the head 71. The presser bar, of course, -is forced downwardly by a yielding spring, and can be raised by the usual hand lever. W'hen the presser bar is raised, the plate 48 and the button holding jaws supported thereby will be raised from the fabric shifting plate.

The rear end of'the plate 48 is pivoted at 74 to the lower end of a lever arnr75 which in turn-is mounted on a. shaft 76 mounted in Aa supporting bracket 77 attached to the head of the machine. -The rear l, end fof the plate 48 does not move up and A ,down. ItV is only the forward end of the lll plate where it is attached to the head 71 carried by the presser bar that is raised and lowered. The rear endr of the .plate 'turns on-v its pivot only. The fabric shift-y mg plate 69 is fixed at its rear endto the lever arm 7 5, and'therefo're, this shiftable plate is .not raised with the presser bar, but the shifting plate and the supporting plate 48 together with the jaws, Iwill be shifted laterally of the plane of vibration of the needle when the lever arm is swung on its supporting shaft 76. The upperend'of the lever arm 75 is pivoted at 78 to a link 79.. The link 79 is in turn connected toarock frame 8O having av rock arm, 81.V The rock arm 81.is provided at its free end with al stud 82 en which is mounted a roller 83.

Said lug Ythat the machine Centrally of this' stud is a sprintg (pressed lug 84 having its outer end lroun e at 85. is forced outwardly by meansv of s ning 86. A control disk 87 is provided wit ion 89 on the counter shaft 12, sothat asy the counter shaft rotates, the control disk will be rotated through this gear connection. The control disk 87 4is: provided with two concentric grooves 90 and 91.- round head ofthe lug 84 is4 adapted to fit into this concentric groove. When lateral pressure Ais applied, the round head will slip vout of one concentric groove'and move over into the other. head is in one concentric groove, thefabric shifting plate and button holder arel set so that the needle will, in its vibration, pass first into one eye and then another of one pair of eyes in the button,

engages the other concentrlc groove, then the button holder will be positioned for the needle in its vibrations, to pass through first one eye and then the other of the other pair of eyes in the button. l

The rock frame 80 is slotted at 92, and the link 79 is attached toa bolt 93 which is shiftable in the slot, and it is held in its adjusted positions inthe slot by` handle 94..' By shifting the posltion of the connection of the link 79 to the rock frame, the extent of lateral -movement imparted to the button holder is varied, and thus it is` with the changing of the throw of the needle bar for stitching buttons of various sizes, Where the eyes are closer together or farther apart. The end ofthe link .79, Whenadjusted to extreme upper position, is directly over 101 the axis of the pivotfor kthe frame 80, and with these adjustments, the button clamp is not shifted and a two-hole button may be' stitched.

The control disk is provldedwith `two 1r cams and 96. lVhen .the yielding stud is in the outer concentric groove, the control cam 95 will engage the roller 83 and force the stud out of the outerconcentric groove over into the inner concentric groove. 11

When the cam 96 engages the roller 83, it will force this .yielding stud from the inner l concentric vgroove outwardly and over into the outer concentric groove.

The button sewing machine is provided 12 with a stop mechanism for stopping the machine at apredetermined time. This will be described later. It is noted at this point, however, that these cams 95 and 96 may be so positioned relativeto the stop mecha- 1g nism, that the shifting ofthe holder Vmay occur at any-time desired in the stitching of the button relative to the time when 'the machine will stop. I prefer to set the cams or the stop mechanism soth'at the machine 1i gear teeth 88 which mesh with a'pin- 70 The 75 When the rounded 80 and when this V85 a locking 95 ay be adjusted together 10( between the two cams, and, therefore, a group of four stitches ma be made, then the button and 'fabric shi ted laterally, where the entire group of stitches inthe other pair of eyes are made, and after this has been accomplished, the other cam will come into action, and shift the but-ton holder back agaln so as to complete thegroup of stitches in -theirst pair of eyes; then the machine will stop automatically.

The machine is provided with means for cutting the threads and clamping the looper thread. This is accomplished by means of a stationary cuttingblade 97 which is secured to the under face of the fabric supporting plate 67, and a movable thread deflector 98. Cooperating with the movable thread deflector is a yielding thread holder 99 for clamping the looper thread and holding the same until after a series of stitches have been made so as to insure proper stitch formation at the starting of the stitching of a button. The thread deilector 98 is carried by` an arm 100, which is rigidly attached to a sleeve 101. This sleeve is journaled on the looper shaft 26 and is connected to an outer sleeve 102 surrounding the looper shaft and spaced therefrom by means of a set screw 103. The sleeve 102 at its rear end is supported by a bushing 104' and is provided with an arm 105 towhich a'link 106 is con` nected (see Fig. 10). The link 106 is pivoted to an arm 107 carried by a rock shaft 108 (see Fig. 14). This rock shaft 108 is mounted in a suitable bracket 109 fixed to the standard of the machine. The rock f shaft 108 carries an arm 110 provided with a roller 111. The control disk 87 is carried by anhub 112 which is mounted to rotate freely on a stub shaft 113 rigidly supported by the overhanging arm 3. This control disk 87 has a ring 114 secured to the opposite face thereof from the concentric groove above described. This ring is concentric to the axis of rotation of the control disk, and

is provided with a cam plate 115. The roller 111 is yieldingly held in contact with the ring'114 and the cam plate 115, when it passes beneath the roller, will swing the rock shaft 108, and through the link 106, will oscillate the sleeve which carries the thread deflector. A spring 116 is connected to the arm' 107 and to the overhanging arm of the machine. This spring normally tends to turn the rock shaft 108 so as to hold the roller in engagement with the ring 114, or thecam plate 115, whichever may be passing the roller. The spring holds the thread deflectorin its retracted position, and to the right of the needle path, as viewed in Fig. 5.--When the cam plate 115 engages the roller 111, it will swing the thread deflector to the left, as viewed in this figure, and cause the thread deflector' to engage but one limb of the needle thread loop on the looper and the looper thread running from the eye of the looper to the previous stitch, and carry the threads back, first causing the same to contact with the yielding holder 99. This yielding holder is free to slide beneath the cutting blade 97 and is held moved forward by means of a spring 117. When the thread deflector, therefore, carries the threads against the outer end of this holder 99, the holder will yield to the movement of the thread deflector and the threads will be carried against the sharp cutting edge of the blade 97 and will be severed. The thread deflector is so the limb of looper which runs to the eye of the needle. It is not necessary to cut both of the strands of the needle thread loop.

It will be noted that the threads are clamped or held by the thread deflector and holder below the edge of the cutting blade, and therefore, the end of the looper thread extending to the eye of the looper is held while the other end ofthe looper thread running to the fabric, is released. When the fabric is removed from Vthe machine, the needle thread running from the eye of the needle down through the fabric to the point whereit is cut, will be pulled through the fabric, and the other cut end of the needle thread will be pulled from the holder, but the looper thread will remain held by the holder as long as the thread retainer is in this position to the left of the needle and holding the thread against the yielding holder 97. It is understood, of course, that the actuating cam plate for the thread cutter is so positioned that the thread is cut afterthe last stitch is formed, and just before the machine stops. The end of the looper thread is, however, held until after several stitches are formed, before the thread deflector is again moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, for its next operation after the. finishing of the stitching of the next button. Y

The machine is provided with means for applying a tension to the needle thread, for releasing this tension and pulling thread from the supply. This releasing of the tenpositioned that it only engages -`sion and pulling thread from the suppwlky, e

bent portion 1252' ich lies in the path of the needle thread loop on they upwardly between these pins.

movement 'of a lug 126 carried by the ring 114. This lug l126 engages the deflected endl of the arm 124 just before the machine stops, and swings the shaft 120 very quickly so as to carry the linger in between the tension disks and release the tension on the needle thread. The needle thread after passing through the tension disk, passes through the eye 127 in an arm 128 mounted at the outer end of the arm 121. Guide pins 129 are spaced-'from each other on the overhanging arm 3, and the arm 128 is adapted to move The needle thread passes below. the pins, and threfore, when the arm moves upwardly, it will pull the thread against the pins and will draw slack thread through the tensions which are opened by thetinger, and thus it will draw thread from the supply. It will be noted that the lug 126 is very short, and in fact, the tension release and pull-off are operated just for an instantvbefore the machine stops. By this arrangement, the pull-off will pull thread from the supply through the opened tension, and will give up the slack pulled of from the'supply, so that when the material is removed from the machine, the pull! ing of the needle thread from the material will pull thisslack from the eye of theneedle, and furnish a sutlicientvamount of thread to insure aproper concatenation of the loops on the very 'first stitch. Means is valso provided for releasing' 'the tension on the looper thread. The looper thread on the wa to the looper passes between the tension j `dis s 150 and thence into a tube 151 and along the cylindrical arm to the looper.

The tension disks 150 are normally held 'pressed together by means of a spring .152.

The arm 153 is mounted on a shaft 154 carried by a bracket 156. Also rigid with this shaft 154 is an arm 157 which extends up# Wardly and is held by suitable spring means in engagement with the periphery of .the control disk 87. Said disk is provided with a notch 158.' The end of the arm 153 is' positioned so as to lie midway between the outer faces of the disks 150 and is wedgeshaped .so that when the outer end is depressed, it will wedge in and separate tension on the looper thread. It will thus 'be seen that when the control disk reaches the right position, the arm 157 dropping in the notch.158'will aotuate the arm 153 so' as'to "release the tension on the looper thread. The notch Pis preferably so positioned as to receive the arm while the needle is making the up-stroke of the last stitch." The torsion spring' will cause the arm to enter the notch and thus release the tension on the looper thread. At this time, of course, the threadv nipping device has grippedthe needle and vlooper threads and is cutting` them oft'.l `The purpose of releasing the tension on the loopbetween the disks the same, thus releasing the -er thread is to insure that the looper on going forward on the last stitch, will not pull the end of its thread out of the grip ing and cutting device\\ When the mac ine reaches its stopping point with the needle at its extreme .upper position, the notch in the cam disk has just passed the arm, and therefore, when the machine starts to sew on the next button, the proper tension is applied to the looper thread.

The machine is provided with a stop mechanism for stopping the machine at a predetermined time. This stop mechanism is shown in Figures 22 to 24, inclusive. Mounted on the main shaft 12 is a belt pulley 130. The belt pulley is free on the shaft. Associated with the belt pulley is a driving ring 131. Between the driving ring and the belt'pulley is a friction disk 132, and a spring 133 normally forces the driving pulley into frictional driving contact with the driving ring 131. Mounted on the shaft 12 is a collar 134. This collar' is fixed to the shaft by a set screw. The collar is provided with an arm 135 which is formed with an inclined or eccentric face 136 wh ich is associated with thekinner face of the driving ring 131. A roll 137 lies between the eccentric face 136V on the arm 135 and the inner concentric face of the driving ring. A springA arm 138 is attached to a plate 139 which is rigid on thecollar I134. This spring normally presses the roller to the left, A as viewed in Fig. 24, to the position shown in Fig. 23, where the roller grips the driving will cause the driving ring to actuate the driving shaft. Freely mounted on .the rotating shaft is a lever 140.. The lever 1140 when swung ,relative to the shaft, is adapted to engage the roller and move it from the position shown in Fig. 23, to the position shown in Fin. 24, where it is out of frictional gripping contact with the driving ring. This lever projects' downwardly and is adapted to engage a bar 141 when the bar is raised to the position shown in Fig, 24. It will thus be seen that when the bar is raised, it will engage the lever 140, and release the driving shaft from the drivingv ring. A yielding lever arm 142 slides over the en'd of the bar 141 and engages the other side thereof. as shown in Fi 24. The bar 141 is provided with a lug w lich is adapted to bear against the face of a control disk 143. This control disk has a'notch formed in its surface, and a spring y144 normally raising the bar 141, forces the lug into the notch. So it is that when the npth registers with the lug, the spring will raise the bar 141 andcause the machine to stop. On

the other hand, when the bar. 141 is de.

pressed through a suitable treadle connec-V tion, it is withdrawn from the path of moveof the present invention, but

thread loop,

ment of the lever arm 140, releasing the lever arm, and then it is that the spring 133 operates to foi'ce the rollei' overl into frictioual gripping contact with the driving ring. The control disk 143 is stepped around by means of a feeding pawl 145 which is actuated by an eccentric` 146 on the main shaft. This stop mechanism per se, forms no part is shown, described and claimed in an application filed May 9, 1927, jointly by iVilliam B. Long and Philip B. Clarke, Serial N o.- 189,997.

It is not thought necessary to describe in great detail t-he operation of tlie machine. The button is placed in vt-lie button holder, the button holder raised and the fabric placed beneath the button holder and on the shifting plate. After the button and fabric are properly positioned, then the stop mechanism is released so that the machine is set in operation. The needle will enter one of the pairs of eyes in the button, as shown in Fig. 18, and it will then be vibrated and pass into the other end of said pair. The needle thread is indicated at t in this ligure. A series of stitches is thus formed, laying four threads, between the eyes of the pair The button is then shifted to the position shown in Fig. 19, and the needle is then carried over one of the eyes in the pair of eyes indicated at 1/. As the needle is moved laterally, it will pass into the other eye of the pair-y, and a series of stitches are again formed until possibly seven or eight threads are laid across the button. The shifting of the button is accomplished by a cam on the control disk moving the rocker arm from one concentric groove to the other. The but-ton stays in the position indicated in Figures 19 and 20 until these two groups ofthreads are laid between the eyes in the pair y. Then the button and fabric are again shifted back to the position shown in Fig. 21. The 4needle now again penetrates one of the eyes in the pair and will vibrate laterally from one eye to the other of this pair, until the group of threads joining these. eyes is finished. Prefc-.-.nly eight threads are laid from one eye to the other. As the last stitch is formed, the control cam for the r.thread deflectorinoves the thread dellector into contact with the looper thread indicated at l, and the limb 1f of the needle and these threads are carried against the holder 99 and then against the cutting edge of the cutter blade 97. This cuts the threads, and as soon as the threads are cut, the stop mechanism automatically stops the machine. J ust before themachine stopped, the tension was released, and acertain amount of thread pulled from the supply, which was given up to the needle before the machine stopped. The presser bar is raised, which lifts the button clamp and fabric from the supporting plate for the fabric, and then the jaws are separated by the hand lever so as to release the button when the fabric and button are removed from the machine. The thread ruiming down throughl the fabric to the cutter will be pulled through the fabric, andthis pulling of the thread through the fabric will pull the slack thread through the eye of the needle, and thus furnish an ample supply of needle thread for the beginning of the First stitch in the stitching of the next button. This removal of the fabric from the machine will also pull the other end of the severed needle thread from the holder. This is the end which is attached to the fabric. The looper thread, however, running from the thread cutter to the eye of the looper is held by the thread deflector, pressing the thread against the yielding end of the looper thread remains clamped or held by the thread holder until after several stitches are formed, and this insures that the first stitchin the stitching of the next button will be properly formed and concatenated.

It. will be apparent from the above that a button sewing machine has been provided which is very simple in construction for stitching flat buttons having a plurality of eyes to a fabric. The machine can be readily adjusted for different size buttons. It

can also be readily adjusted for stitching a button havingtwo eyes or a button having four eyes. There are no parts which are vibrated during the stitching of the button other than the reciprocation of the needle, the looper and the thread retainer. In other words, the button clamp and the fabric are shifted twice during the stitching of a four eyed button, but they are not vibrated at each stitch formation. This reduces greatly the power necessary to the operation of the machine. The thread cutter and the teusion release and pull-oitl are all actuated by one control disk, and this a ain reduces the number of parts necessary in the organization of the button sewing machine.

It is ribvious that minor changes in the details of construction and ther arrangement of the parts may be made without departing fromtlie spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toA secure by Letters Patent, is-

.ra-nged groove, a concentric member on said shaft, a rod provided with a forked end having a sliding engagement with said concentric member, a roller on said rod engaging llO ' button holder,

- working position, and a workingposition,

needle thread loop back on the loop-l for cutting .the needle Vloy for shifting determined intervals,

said groove, and devices for connecting said rod`to said-gate, an oscillating thread carrying looper-cooperating 'with said needle, a control disk, and means operated thereby for shifting saidbutton holder at aredetcrmined intervals in a direction at rig t angles to the lateral movement of the needle.

2. A button sewing machine including a button holder, a needle, means for vibrating said needle laterally, an' oscillating thread carrying looper cooperating with said needle, a control disk, means operated'thereby for shifting said button holder at predetermined intervals, said looper oscillating in a fixed loop retainer for moving the needle thread vloop back on the looper at each stitch formati on.

3. A button sewing machine including a button holder, a` needle, means for vibratingr said needle` laterally, an oscillating thread carrying looper cooperating with said needle, a control disk, means operated thereby for shifting said button holder` at predetermined intervals,`said looper oscillating inafixed a loop retainer for moving the er at each stitch formation, and a stop mec anism lfor stopping the 'machine atjthe completion of the button sewing operation.

4." A button sewing machine including a a needle, means forvibrat-ing said needle laterally, an oscillating thread carrying looper cooperating with said needle,

`a controldisk, means operated thereby for f shifting said button holder at predetermined intervals, said looper oscillating in a fixed working position, a loop retainer for 'moving the needle thread loo'p back on the looper at each stitch formation, a stop mechanism for stoppingthe machine at the completion' of the button 4sewing operation, a thread cutting mechanism andlooper thread holder, and means operated by'said controldisk thread and clamping the looper thread just prior to the stopping of the machine. v

5. A button sewing machine including a button holder, a needle, means for vibrating said needle laterally, thread carrying looper cooperating with said needle, a control disk, means operated theresaid button holder at pre- 'said looper oscillating in a. fixed Working position, a loop retainer for, moving thev needle thread loop back on the looper at veach stitch lformation, a stop mechanism forstoppiug the machine at the completion of the button sewing operation, a thread cutting mechanism and looper thread holder, means operated by said control-disk for cutting the needle thread and clamping the looper thread just prior to the stopping ofthe machine, a tension release and pullof,=and devices operated by said control disk for opening the tension,

an 'oscillating pulling needle thread from the supply, and giving up said thread to the needle just prior to the stopping of the machine.

6. A button sewing machine including a. button holder, a needle, means for vibrating said needle laterally, a control disk having concentric grooves on the' side face thereof` a rocker arm having a yielding stud adapted to engage a concentric groove, connect-ing said rocker arm to said button holder for shifting the button holder, and means carried by said control disk for shifting said yielding stud fromene concentric groove to the other at predetermined intervals.l

devices for 7 A button sewing machine includingr a button holder, a needle, means for vibrating said needle laterally, a -control disk having concentric grooves on the side face thereof,

a rocker arm having a yielding stud adapted to engage a concentric groove, devices for connecting said rocker arm to saidbutton holder` for shifting the button holder,

l means carried by said control disk for shifting said yielding stud from one concentric groove to the other at predetermined intervals, said devices connecting the Vrocker arm to the button lholder being adjustable for varying the amount of lateral shift given to the button holder, and said means for vibrating said needle laterally being adjustable for varying the amount of laterall movement imparted to the needle.

8. A button sewing machine including a fabric'supporting plate,.a button holder for supporting abu-tton above said fabric, said 'button holder having means for engaging the fabric, means whereby said button holder may be raised from the fabric, means for shifting the button holder and fabric supporting plate laterally ofthe lateral vibrations of the needle, a needle, means for vibrating said needle laterally, including an oscillating needle supporting gate, a shaft, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, a link connecting said lever to said gate, a disc on said shaft having an eccentrically arranged groove, a rod having a forked end having a sliding engagement with said concentric member, a roller on said rod adapted to engage said groove, and means for adjustabl'y connecting ysaid rod to said lever for oscillating the a concentric member on said shaft,

needle gate a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, a linlr connecting said lever to said gate, a shaft, a. rod having endwise sliding engagement with said shaft, a disc on the shaft, a cam groove in the disc, a roller on said rod engaging said cam groove, said rod having an adjustable connection with said lever whereby said needle is vibrated laterally and whereby the throw of the needle may be varied, and a thread carrying looper coo rating with vsaid needle, said means for s ifting the button holder and fabric supporting plate being adjustable whereby the extent o movement imparted thereto may be varied.

10. A button sewing machine including a button holder, a needle, means for vibratlng the needle laterally, an oscillating thread carrying looper cooperating with the needle,

2o a control disk, means operated thereby for shifting the button holder at predetermined intervals, a combined thread cutter and holder, a tension, a. tension release and pullof for the needle thread, a tension for the looper thread, a tension release for said loo er thread, devices operated by said control) disk for pullin needle thread from the supply at the comp etion of the button sewing operation-and for suppl ing the s ame to I the needle, devices o rate by the control disk for cutting an clamping the needle' and looper threads, and devices operated by the control disk forreleasing the tension on the loafer thread as the looper thread is clampe so as to grrevent the looper from pulling the thread om the holder therefor. In testimony whereof, I aix mi' si ature.

A RVID ER C SON. 

